Madagascar Swears in Young President
 Andry Rojoelina, a 34-year-old former opposition leader and DJ, was sworn in as president of Madagascar this weekend. The inauguration was held at a soccer stadium in the nation’s capital, Antananarivo, and was broadcast on national television, reports CNN. Until last week the nation had been undergoing political upheaval for months. Earlier this year citizens hit the streets in several deadly protests over the nation’s rising food prices, and what they saw as dictator type tendencies from ousted President Marc Ravalomanana. Under mounting pressure, Ravalomanana was forced to step down last week and gave power to the nation’s military. The military then handed power over to Rojoelina and he was confirmed by the country’s high court, reports the news service. But the Southern African Development Community along with U.S. officials are rejecting the government’s legitimacy due to Ravalomanana’s forced resignation. The United States will even temporarily stop sending non-humanitarian aid to the nation. While he has his share of fans, about 4,000 to 6,000 critics of Rojoelina (former mayor of Antananarivo) protested his inauguration at the Place de la Democratie in Antananarivo carrying signs that read, “We do not want a hooligan government.” They also call attention to the fact that the 34-year-old is too young; the nation’s constitution says that 40 is the minimum age for the presidency. 

 
Massive Crowds Converge in Angola for Pope
At his last stop Africa, Pope Benedict XVI gave an outdoor Mass in Angola in front of hundreds of thousands, his largest crowd on the continent yet, reports the BBC. In his speech, the Pope spoke out against the “destructive power of civil strife” on the continent and asked Africans to reach out to believers of witchcraft and spirits and bring them to church. “When God’s word … is neglected, and when God’s law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice,” the Pope said, speaking about the civil upheaval across the continent. Catholics make up 55 percent of Angola’s population. Sunday’s Mass saw scorching temperatures and several in the crowd suffered from heat stroke. The Pope’s Saturday appearance, however, turned deadly when two women died in a crush of people trying to get into the stadium. At Sunday’s mass the Pope conveyed his sympathy over the losses. “I express my solidarity to their families and friends and my deep sorrow because this happened while they were coming to see me,” he said. The Mass marked the last day of the Pope’s week-long visit on the continent, which also included a stop in Cameroon.

TAGS: angola, Madagascar, pope, President Rojoelina

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